Pressed metal automobile body



Feb. 16, 1932. J. LEDwlNKA PRESSED METAL AUTOMOBILE BODY Filed Sept. l, 1927 INVENTOR. JQSEPH Lam/:Nm

FIG- 3 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 1S, 1932 'unirse srArss rennes 4P-Af'rsnfr oFFicE JosEPII LEDWINKA, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoR 'ro EDWARD G. BULL MANUFACTURING oo., or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A oonPoRA TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Pianssnn METALA AU'roMoBILE BODY n Application filed September 1, 1927.` Serial No. 216,801.

body its iinished external appearance. These y.

panel strips do not coact materiallywith the frame for strengthening the body. The accurate dimensions of the door openings of' the body must be obtained by iinelylitting Vand cutting the iframe members. VKThis'naturally entails additional time and cost of production, and often results,as well, in inaccurate ts between the doors and their frame. Of course, the same diiiiculty arises likewise in connection with the window and windshield openings where laterally movable closure members are used. Further disadvantages occur in the use of separate panel strips since they cannot be kformed in a single die stamping operation, applied quickly as one unit, and materially increase'the number of exterior joints throughout the body.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a compositefbody construction, wherein the fitA between the doors and other ylaterally movable closure` members and their openings `or :trames will be accurate and its obtainance not dependent upon precise cutting andinterlitting of the wooden traine elements. n

Another important object is to provide such a construction wherein the paneling or sheathing enters into the body as an integral structural part, serving mutually with the frame to effect the requisite strength against the stresses and strains of usage.

There are additionally other objects, among which are the reduction in number of the exterior joints and structural parts, together with reduced cost and time of production and assembly. Y

0f course, even further objects and `advantages will become apparent during the detailed description of the inventionto follow. V

y In accomplishing these objects it is proposed to utilize a one-piece stamping of sheet metal to form the outer side paneling of the `body and to arrange such stamping upon a main wooden frame. The stamping would be formed with a deep draw, of sub stantially the full depth of the side of the body, the corners of the door openings being rounded with generous curves so that the door yamb could be made at one die stamping operation. In View of the deep draw of the stamping, it is contemplated that the wooden framework could fit substantially within the outer paneling. In this way the contour and dimensions of the doorand otherfopenings for the laterally movable closure members, such as windows, windshields, would be established by the paneling, which being formed by die stamping in a` single operation would be accurateand constant. Following as a concomitant, the wooden framework may be formed so as'to merely substantially approximate the dimensions and coutour of the door and other openings. The paneling may be tacked, screwed or otherwise secured to the frame.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings where- Figure l` is a side elevational View of the door frame portion of a composite body constructed in accordance with the invention, the woo-den frame members and the forward door being indicated by the dot and dash lines.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the door being omitted. y

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l, and

Figure Ll is a vertical sectional view taken on line of Fig. l.

The embodiment illustrated in the drawings is directed to a body of the sedan type, but it isunderstood that the invention is also applicable to coupes and other types of bodies. Also, there has been shown only that partof one side of the body extending from the cowl to the rear post of the rear door, it being well understood that the tonneau portion or a part thereof could be vincluded in the one .ing haring been desc .e

piece panel and that the invention embraces as well the completed body.

The entire side paneling of the body, or as shown, that portion of the body paneliiig extending from and including the cowl to the rear post of the rear door, is formed by a onepiece continuous sheet metal stamping 1. This stamping extends all the way around the door Openings Z and 3 thereby forming continuous frames therefor The part of the stamping, which forms in effectthe A post of the body, has its outer side formed into the desired curve or shape as at Ll, one end of such side terminating in the rearwardly projecting flange 5 serviii g as a seat for the windshield, while the other end is configured to ,form'the door jamb. This latter end is sub- .stantially an inwardly extending flange of double -Z configuration, the part 6 of which -formsthe door jamb proper, the flange 7 the inner door stop, and the angle 8 a rabbet "for the door overlap.

The stamping at the BHC or intermediate post'forms substantially an inwardly presentchannel having a base 9 and side walls f10fand 11 of double Z formation correspond- -ing tothe similar part of the A post and serving thev same purpose.

Thepart 12 of the stamping contiguous to the YD or rear door post is in the form of a double Z, the innermost Z of which serves as ya door jamb, while the outermost Z is secured. -to the frame andforms a seat for the joinder of the tonneau pa neli ng thereto. The tonneau -pmieling l13 may have its forward edge inwardly Yand forwardly flanged at 14 so as to nest in that portion of the side paneling forming the rear vdoor rabbet.

Across the upper part of the door openings the paneling 1 is formed with a door jainb portion 15 of the same configuration as the corresponding portions ot the posts. The paneling along the top of the body is also `shown as having an angle portion formed by the arms 16 and 17, Within which the wooden frame member 18 may nest. There may be other forms wherein the arm 17 would extend upwardly and form the curved quarter por- -tion of the roof.

At `the threshold the stamping is inthe form of an inwardly presenting channel, the outer wall 19-of which has au inwardly offset portion 20 forming a rabbetfor the lower e ne of the door. The bottom wall 21 of the channel may extend under the body sill while the upper wall 2 is upwardly and inwardly inclined to correspond with the remainder of the door amb.

The detailed configura n of the stampthe remainder of the description will meal u h the fo of the stamping and fraaie in more ge l terms. It might perhaps be oppoituV e to statehere, that the drawi'i'is are more or less a diagrammatic showing iid that various other specific configurations might be imparted to the stamping and to the panel, and that the stamping could be formed to extend a part or all of the way around the tonneau.

As previously stated, the paneling is formed from one piece of sheet metal by a single die stamping operation. T he stamping operation effects a deep drawing of the sheet so that the depth ot the post, threshold header and other portions of the paneling about the openings for the laterallyniovable closures are substantially equal to the depth of thel body wall. In order that the coinplete panel may be formed at one operation, the corners of the openings are rounded on generous curves. It is understood, of course, that the panel is given the desired vertical and longitudinal curvature.

The framework may be formed in any well known manner and may comprise the usual sill members 23, vertical post members 24, and header members 18. The sill members may be straight and the longitudinal curvature of the body furnished by the paneling, but since the posts and headers are substantially ofthe same depth as the paneling. these members must approximate the vertical curvature of the body. However, since the door jambs are formed exclusive by the paneling there does not have to be accurate fitting and sizing of the posts or headers. If desired, the P--C or intermediate post may be eliminated since the paneling forms a channel not requiring any additional element for the post. A cover panel may be secured under the door stop flanges of the post, an d forms therewith a boX girder construction for further strengthening the saine.

The paneling, of course, when placed over the framework fits around and about the frame members and is secured thereto in any suitable manner. Molding strips may be used wherever it is necessary to cover up and conceal open joints or seams. Likewise where a kick-up is to be provided for the rear Wheel housing, the frame and panel may be formed so as to furnish the shape desired.

The foregoing description has shown that provision is made for obtaining accurate fits between the laterally movable closures of the body and their jambs or frames not requiring the diflicult precision in cutting and fitting the wooden frame members usually necessary in composite bodies. This provision is brought about by the employment of the one piece stamping having openings the edges of which define the limits ofthe j ambs for the said closures independently of the frame. The use of the one piece stamping reduces the number of production operations since the same is die stamped in one operation. Naturally the cost and time of production is similarly reduced. The one piece stamping serves not simply as a cover for the frame but actually enters into the body structure as a structural and necessary element thereof, serving together with the frame to impart the requisite strength to the body to withstand the stresses and strains of usage. Further, the use of the construction allows the wooden frame members to be formed of cheaper stock, since the entire body strength is not dependent thereon. The paneling being of one piece the number of exterior joints usually found in composite bodies is reduced with a resulting economy in eliminating the need for puttying or other filling operations.

The following claims are added with the understanding that the invention is susceptible of various lmodifications and kadaptations within the scope thereof.

What I claim as new and useful is:

l. An automobile body construction comprising a main wooden frame including vertical and longitudinal members and a onepiece sheet metal panel applied and secured to said frame, said panel being provided with a closure opening within its margins and flanged inwardly in the margin of said opening to provide a continuous closure frame including the j amb face of said opening for a laterally movable closure member 5. An automobile body construction comprising in combination, a wooden frame having longitudinal and vertical members, and a one-piece sheet metal panel applied to said frame and secured thereto, said panel having a door opening within its margins and his signature.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA.

and defining the limits of the closure open- ,f

ing independently of the main frame.

2. An automobile body construction comprising, in combination, a wooden frame and a one-piece panel secured to said frame and extending from the forward edge of the cowl to the rear of the rear door, said panel forming continuous front and rear door frames of a depth substantially equal to the thick* ness of the body wall and defining the limits of the door openings independently of the wooden frame.

8. An automobile body construction comprising, in combination, a .wooden frame having longitudinal and vertical members, and a one-piece continuous sheetmetal side panel completely embracing said frame, said panel having a door opening therein the pe ripheral edges of which are formed by 1n`- wardly extending flanges forming the door j amb independently of the wooden frame and of a depth equal to the full depth of the wall ef the body.

fl. An automobile body construction comprising, in combination, a one-piece continuous sheet metal side panel having a door open- Y ing therein, and a wooden frame having longitudianl and vertical members, said panel may be attained. 

